A longtime Outback Steakhouse has served its last Bloomin’ Onion in Pennsylvania. After nearly two decades in business, the restaurant has permanently closed, marking another change in the state’s casual dining landscape as national chains continue to reevaluate their footprints.
Washington County location closes after lease expires
The Outback Steakhouse at 460 Washington Road in South Strabane Township, Washington County, officially closed on June 22. Company officials said the restaurant’s lease had expired, leading to the decision to permanently shutter the location.
The restaurant had been part of the Washington community for approximately 20 years, serving the chain’s signature steaks, seafood, burgers and its popular Bloomin’ Onion appetizer. Customers arriving after the closure found signs directing them to nearby Outback locations.
Employees offered transfers
Despite the closure, Bloomin’ Brands, Outback Steakhouse’s parent company, said some employees would have the opportunity to transfer to nearby restaurants and would receive transition bonuses to help with the change.
The closure also leaves just one Outback Steakhouse remaining in Western Pennsylvania, located in Coraopolis. The company’s McCandless Township restaurant closed in 2024 as part of Bloomin’ Brands’ broader effort to eliminate underperforming locations and reduce costs by allowing certain leases to expire.
Part of a broader strategy
Bloomin’ Brands has spent the past two years streamlining its restaurant portfolio while focusing investments on locations with stronger long-term performance. The Washington closure appears to be part of that ongoing strategy rather than the result of an abrupt business shutdown.
For longtime customers in Washington County, however, the closure marks the end of a familiar dining destination that had been part of the community for nearly two decades. While nearby Outback locations remain open, the Washington restaurant’s departure reflects the continuing evolution of the casual dining industry as chains adapt to changing market conditions.
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